Chiefs Beat Americans 4-3 in OT in Game Four

The Tri-City Americans tried to write the same script they did in winning Tuesday's game three against the Spokane Chiefs, but instead it was the Chiefs winning Thursday night's game four in overtime by a score of 4-3 following a furious Americans rally to take a 3-1 series lead in the teams' first round best of seven WHL playoff series.

Blake Gal scored the game winner at 5:10 of the overtime, his fifth of the playoffs, but not before the game saw a number of the dramatic twists and turns only an Americans/Chiefs playoff game can provide.

Chiefs captain Brenden Kichton scored 6:35 into the 3rd to give Spokane a 3-1 lead. However, he Americans rallied in the games final minutes, getting a power play goal from Mitch Topping at the 14:40 mark and the game tying goal from Drydn Dow with 2:43 left to force overtime.

Americans goalie Luke Lee-Knight had to leave the game just 2:02 into overtime after apparently injuring his left arm after a collision with the Chiefs Adam Helewka in front of the Tri-City net. Troy Trombley replaced Lee-Knight, and played just over three minutes before allowing Gal's game winner.

Americans captain Justin Feser opened the scoring at the 9:25 mark of the first, but goals by Adam Helewka and Todd Fiddler gave the Chiefs a 2-1 lead after one. There was no scoring in the second.

Spokane can win the series with a victory in Saturday's game five. An Americans win would force game six Tuesday night in Spokane. If necessary, game seven would be in Spokane Wednesday.

Game five will be televised on KAPP/KVEW's sister station, MeTV, beginning at 7PM Saturday. MeTV is Charter channel 280 or 35.2 and 42.2 on your digital tuner.